BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3140

By: Gonzalez Toureilles

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, if a local agreement exists between the attorney representing the state and law enforcement agencies, property may be transferred to a municipal or county agency or school district to maintain, repair, use, and operate for official purposes, if the property is free of any interest of an interest holder.  The agency or school district receiving the property may then also transfer the property to any other municipal or county agency or school district. 

H.B. 3140 allows a law enforcement agency to transfer abandoned or forfeited property to a groundwater conservation district. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3140 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to authorize a law enforcement agency to which property is transferred to transfer or loan the property to a groundwater conservation district governed by Water Code provisions for groundwater conservation districts.

H.B. 3140 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a law enforcement agency that takes an abandoned motor vehicle into custody that is not claimed under provisions for giving notice of taking an abandoned motor vehicle into custody to transfer the vehicle to another groundwater conservation district governed by Water Code provisions for ground water conservation districts for use of that district.

H.B. 3140 makes conforming changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Transportation Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.